Rikuson glided a quill pen across the parchment. How many shorthand cursive signatures has it been? Occasionally, he would compare it against the first signature he wrote to check whether its shape has changed.
As he only ever affixed seals when he had been in the capital, his hand was never this tired. While shaking his wrist every now and then, he checked the documents.
"Rikuson-sama. This one please."
A civil official brought in new documents. This official had come here five times in total, and owing to his near-perfect accent, seemed like he hailed from Kaou Province. His earlobes were large–a shape that invites good fortune. As if he frequently carried loads on his right side, his right shoulder was slanted downwards.
"Thank you. Then, these ones," Rikuson said.
"Certainly," the civil official replied.
The documents passed to him could be described as odd jobs. At the very least, the lord of this domain perceived them as so.
The majority of Seii Province's population were concentrated in the towns along the trade route that linked east with west.
The odd jobs, as they were called here, were complaints from residents of the land that were distanced from these trade routes. Rather than towns, were they more villages or settlements? It was mostly pasturage or cultivators of dried produce like grape. These odd jobs were on wanting to build waterways for irrigation, night burglars frequently stealing livestock, things like that.
"Hahaha." Rikuson laughed despite himself.
The civil official looked at Rikuson dubiously on his way out.
Has it been over half a year since he was called over from the imperial capital to the western capital? Rikuson had come here officially on the grounds that they wanted a person who understood the government of the capital, but he was only ever given odd jobs. Was his workload increasing be what has changed since the beginning?
"It doesn't look like they trust me," Rikuson spoke to himself in the office that he was provided.
While moving his right hand that was gradually getting wrist strain, he checked the documents.
Even Rikuson could see the trends when he saw the bulky documents every day. Excepting remembering people's faces, he wanted to believe he had some special skill.
"I give proper reports though."
Gyoku'ou was the one who allocated his work. If Rikuson doesn't report what he noticed, there was a chance that once something careless happens, he would get his tail cut.
Is that why Rikuson was purposely called over? He had his suspicions.
Gyoku'ou. The current temporary lord of the western capital. Being the eldest son, if Gyoku'en didn't return from the central region, he was next in power.
"Excuse me."
Once again, another civil official brought in documents. This time, it wasn't an addition to the paperwork, but the return of the documents Rikuson had addressed to the higher-ups. Rikuson had only met him twice, as the civil official worked directly under Gyoku'ou. The first time was when Rikuson travelled to the west last year, and the second time he passed by the civil official was while he was on his way to greet Gyoku'ou.
"I'm returning this," the civil official said.
There was nothing written on the documents. Not even a signature or a seal.
"This means unauthorised, yes?" Rikuson asked.
"Yes. Certainly, it might be needed, but there is more important work. He said to do it in order of priority," the civil official said plainly.
As the corners of Rikuson's lips rose, he put the returned document in the drawer.
"And one more thing," the civil official said.
"What is it?"
"A summon from Gyoku'ou-sama. Not right now, but how about a tea party once official duties end in the afternoon?"
It was phrased as a question, but Rikuson had no way of turning it down. "Certainly. Is it okay if I go to the gazebo in the courtyard before the afternoon bell?"
"Yes." The civil official left with a cool expression.
It was the place where Gyoku'ou always held his tea parties. It was near an oasis, a location cooler than anywhere else. Rikuson knew very well as insect repellent incense is lit from the morning the tea party is held.
The man called Gyoku'ou isn't incompetent. Being the child of an influential man, he received a steady education. Even Rikuson was well-aware of Gyoku'ou's passion to try to develop the western capital, perhaps due to the influence of Gyoku'en who was once a merchant,
His eyes were unchanged from his youth, possessing aspirations that resembled ambition.
Perhaps for that, Rikuson even sensed danger from them.
"…is this also under my jurisdiction?"
Rikuson had secluded himself in the office often, so his conversations with people had deceased. His developing a habit of muttering to himself was inevitable.
"I want to talk to people more often."
His special skill of remembering people's faces was also his interest. Being unable to ever forget a face he saw before, meant that he got tired of seeing the same faces all the time.
What had appeared was a bill for accessories of silk and jewels. Being a trading post, the price was no doubt a lot cheaper than buying in the capital, but still, the order of magnitude was different. He could easily surmise what it was used for.
When Rikuson just arrived in the west, he had walked past a woman. Around fifteen or sixteen years old, a girl whose atmosphere resembled Empress Gyokuyou.
When he asked the official who guided him around, he was told she is Gyoku'ou's daughter.
There's no resemblance though, the official had whispered, but it might have been wise to say nothing more.
"He truly is ambitions." Rikuson's lips quirked up and he glided the pen again.
.
.
.
The gentleman with thick black hair, aside from his tanned skin, had a face and figure that was rarely seen among the residents of the western capital. Although he had some deep lines, his face was stereotypical of Rii. His hair was straight, a relatively round face, and his body figure looked more slender than the average person in the western capital.
Speaking of who, before Rikuson was the man called Gyoku'ou.
He was past his forties, but he looked ten years younger amongst the residents of the western capital with their beer bellies. His white teeth when he smiled cheerfully gave a favourable impression.
Upon seeing the long double tooth, Rikuson quietly looked away.
"Thank you very much for the invitation." Rikuson slowly bowed his head.
"No, you don't have to be humble. Please sit," Gyoku'ou said.
A manservant pulled out a rattan chair. When Rikuson sat down, fruit juice was placed on the table.
"Would you prefer tea?"
"No, I'd wish for something sweet when I'm doing civil official work."
Was it cooled by underground water? There was condensation on the glass container.
"Don't be humble. You think I am hiding something?"
"Hahaha. I got nervous." Smiling, Rikuson drank a mouthful of fruit juice. "I can't calm down, thinking that as I was dispatched from the royal capital, beyond my position, you must feel disappointed."
"Hahaha. Father's personnel selection can't be wrong. More importantly, you worked under that Rakan-dono, so there's no way you're incompetent."
Rakan-dono, is it?
Rikuson put down the glass cup. Colourful fruit juice was served in the middle of the table.
"By the way." Gyoku'ou stood up and turned around. Rikuson saw that the man was facing a group of merchants. "Is there anyone you recognise in this group?"
"…there are three people. Two are from the caravans that come to the capital every year. And other person worked in the centre of the sea trade route."
A manservant showed up and set down a pen and paper before Rikuson.
Rikuson wrote down their names and passed it over. "I can only remember the names of two people. The rest are faces I'm seeing for the first time."
"Understood. We'll check."
Were they checking to see if there were suspicious people, or were they just testing Rikuson's special skill?
The civil official came back a short while later and whispered into Gyoku'ou's ear.
"Hm." Gyoku'ou stroked his beard as if he was satisfied with the answer. "As expected of you. All correct."
"…I just remembered by chance." Rikuson bowed his head slowly in a show of modesty.
"How mysterious. How can you remember people's faces, even though there are some dozens or some hundred in a day? Do have a blood relation to the Ra Clan that is rumoured to have unusual abilities from the capital? Is this why you serve Rakan-dono?"
"H-how can that be?" Rikuson smiled for the first time today. Rather, this might be the most interesting conversation he had since coming to the western capital.
Thinking he has a blood relation to the Rakan, how can that be–it was more interesting than any travelling entertainer's stock phrase.
"The people of that clan are aberrant. In my case, let's see. Would it be something like a habit?" Rikuson said.
"A habit?" Gyoku'ou asked.
"Yes. My mother had taught me to never forget a person's face."
"That reminds me, you said that you came from a family of merchants."
"Yes, forgetting a customer's face would beget obstacles in business. Think that you won't be allowed to live, my mother had said." As if he had eased his nerves from laughing, Rikuson spoke at length.
"What a strict mother."
"Yes."
Rikuson drank the fruit juice like he was inhaling it. Tactician-sama would like what I'm drinking too, he thought, when Gyoku'ou said something surprising.
"Would Rakan-dono be pleased with this taste as well?"
"Are you aware that Rakan-sama can't drink?"
"It is well-known."
Rikuson also knew that it was well-known. After that person passes through, it was like a typhoon had stormed through.
"When he comes to the western capital, let's prepare fruit juice with this included," Gyoku'ou said.
"When he comes to the western capital?" Rikuson repeated despite himself. He started to sweat.
"Oh, you're on guard again. That's right. Is it the first time you're hearing this? I'll tell you some good news."
Rather, Gyoku'ou was speaking as though this was the main topic.
"Rakan-dono will be coming to the western capital. Somehow, the imperial brother will be coming along too."
He declared it like the imperial clan was a bonus.
Rikuson raised his lips for form's sake and sighed deeply in his heart.
— New coming soon —
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- my thoughts:I swear when Rakan arrives, he's gonna burn down the western capital. And Gyoku'ou's gonna be in for a huge surprise lmao (unless that's what's he's going for, then hmm......)
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